Chapter 4 - Dark Petals

Persephone and Hades decided to take a stroll round the grove talking about anything and everything in their lives. Of course, Hades had more wilder and dramatic stories to tell, but regardless, she drank them all in and her fascination grew with each one.

"Your father?!"

"Yes… Kronos. Fate told him that one day he'd be overthrown by his children. And well whaddya know! Tried to eat and swallow every last one of us. But hey maybe that was his way of showing his fatherly love right ha! Poor mother… having to deal with that monster!"

"Do you miss her?"

"... Yes. After everything that happened. I couldn't blame her for what she did."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"No… actually, I haven't really had a chance to talk about these kind of things. It's a breath of fresh air I guess."

"I-I'm here if you ever need to talk hehhehe…" She laughed nervously. He subtly caught on to her action, and never had he smiled so much in such a short space of time like he did when he was with her.

"Anyway… I'd like to forget about family and focus on you."

"Me?

"I-I mean talking… talk about you and your life." He stuttered, which momentarily surprised him. Hades never really ever felt nervous or insecure, but something about her just made him feel as if his own fire would burn him alive.

"Oh, well, there isn't that much to tell… really. I must be pretty dull in comparison… I can't understand why you would… want to-"

"Kore…" Hades leaned in closer than expected, making Persephone blush.

"Y-Yes?"

"That fact is… you CAN bring things to life out of nothing! That's one thing I gotta admit I'm impressed by. And, considering your mother's HIGH STRUNG reputation… I want you to feel as if you're able to speak freely. So shout it from the roof tops if you need to! Be loud and don't think any less of yourself!"

Her heart fluttered like leaves dancing in the wind. The cage she was born into had slowly seemed to ware away and rot.

"Do you… really think that of me?" She equally leaned in slightly closer. The wanton need to hold her face seemed to cross his mind in a flash, "I do." Persephone closed her eyes and prepared herself for what would come next. Their lips were barely inches away until he stopped, and retracted back into a stern and upright position.

"Oh geez! Will you look at the time! It's getting late… you best head back and well ME being the god of the underworld and all I got plans myself to get back to. But hey! Was nice speaking and meeting ya so until next time" Before she could get even one line of dialogue in he clicked his fingers and vanished. Confusion was the least of her emotions. How her heart raced with excitement! How her mind was left filled with thoughts of him! She smiled and giggled to herself noticing how flustered he- no… how both of them were.

Was he seriously about to… to kiss me?

No! It couldn't be! What a ridiculous thing!

Persephone hurried back. Luckily, Lily covered for her after exceeding the hour time limit.

"Ah there you are dear! Lily told me you fell asleep after picking the daisies… you're such a dopey little girl!" Demeter said, pulling her cheek in a childish manner.

"Come now, enough frolicking… we have work and training to do."

"Yes, mother."

"My dear what horrendous flower is that is your basket?!" Persephone looked down, forgetting all about the black daisy Hades picked.

"It's a new kind of flower I made mother. And I don't find it horrendous at all… In fact… it's captivating." Demeter snatched it from her grasp in one swoop, examining it will an aura of disapproval.

"This has no purpose in Spring!"

"Mother wait! Don't-"

Before Persephone could protest further, she crumpled it up and threw it to the ground, letting its petals scatter and blow away with the wind. On the verge of tears, Persephone managed to spot one lone petal caught between the blades of grass. Quickly, she placed it inside the palm of her hand, concealing it from view.

Meanwhile in the underworld…

"Hey boss! Welcome… back?" The two awkwardly greeted as their master walked with a shocked expression upon his face and slow heavy walk towards his chambers.

He held his breath and released collapsing in his chair and looking at the mirror.

He scowled at his own reflection and criticising his behaviour,

"What. The. Hell. Is wrong with you?! That was WAY too close for comfort!" He slapped himself in the face and looked deep stating, "Get control of yourself! Sure, she maybe beautiful? So what! And sure, she maybe intelligent, witty, fun, powerful and… and… out of my depth." He face palmed and collapsed on the bed in a huff on the bed.

WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! His room began to rumble like an earthquake as Cerberus came bounding in, wagging his tail and slobbering on the carpet.

"You big dumb doofus of a dog! How many times have I told you NOT TO DISTURB ME IN HERE!" Cerberus whimpered and tried to nuzzle of of its big heads up against in master much to his displeasure. He groaned at the adorable puppy eyes and began to pat the three heads one by one.

" I really don't know what's happened to me these past couple of weeks fellas… but for some reason… I don't want it to end."

On Mount Olympus…

"Zeus I've been thinking…" Hera said as she combed her hair to get ready for bed.

"And what is that my dear?" Zeus replied back.

"About helping Hades out. You said so yourself that you felt it was your duty."

"Yes I know… But getting Hades to listen is like talking to stone. He won't accept my help no matter what."

"Well never give up! He is your brother afterall… don't you want to see him look less.. well… gloomy?"

"Of course I do! From what he mentioned that's all he ever seems to have in life. There must be something… hmmmm…WAIT I GOT IT!" Zeus sparked into life and quickly wrote down a message for Hermes to send in the morning.

"What is this brilliant idea of yours then?"

He needs a companion right? He said so himself! So, if we can find someone who can help him bring some… shall we say sunshine into his darkness, then everything will fall into place!"

"Are you suggesting an arranged marriage of some sorts?"

"Not exactly… just giving him a little push into a more… loving direction. I know a few… er… old acquaintances of mine, who'd be interested."

"Mhmmm… and are these so called "acquaintances" that you seem to speak SO fondly of… do they happen to be certain GIRLS you were ONCE FRIENDLY WITH?"

"Now, now, dear no need to get heated up! I wouldn't be king of the gods if I didn't know… some women who I've met." Hera seethed like hot steam. She knew of his affairs in the past, and luckily for her, Zeus ALWAYS came back (despite having no choice in the matter when his mortal/immortal lovers were either burned, killed, transformed, or locked away for eternity).

"Fine… but if this backfires, you won't have anyone to blame but yourself! Tell me who exactly would be wanting to get close with Hades anyway?"

"I know just the person… she's an immortal being. Goes by the name of Minthe."